Apparatus for a firing weapon mounted at a light vehicle

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for a firing weapon mounted at a light vehicle, said firing weapon having a cradle arranged at an elevating rim and the recoil force of the weapon during firing bringing about a tilting movement of the vehicle. The cradle is pivotably arranged for movement against the action of a spring at a pivot pin which is offset with respect to the pivot axis of the elevating rim, in order to bring about a movement of the cradle which is opposite to the tilting movement of the vehicle.

nited States Patent [191' Waeber [45] Nov. 5, 1974 [54] APPARATUS FOR A FIRING WEAPON 2,316,320 4/1943 Dewandre 89/375 A MOUNTED AT A LIGHT VEHICLE 2.712.271 7/1955 Wabnitz 89/36 K 3.340.771 9/1967 Inventor: Vladimir e Geneve, 3.434.382 3/1969 Kirsch et al. 89/36 K Switzerland 1 Assigneei werkleugmaschlnenfabri! Primary Examiner -Stephen C. Bentley Qs lkgq-l 92?! Attorney. Agent. or Firm-Werner W. Kleeman Switzerland [22] Filed: Aug. 10, 1972 57 AB T CT [21] Appl. No.: 279,705 I l I An apparatus for a firing weapon mounted at a light I 30] 1 Foreign Application Prior"), Dam vehicle, said firing weapon hav ng a cradle arranged at v I an elevating rim and the recoil force of the weapon swmrhmd (2256/71 during firing bringing about a tilting movement of the vehicle. The cradle is pivotably arranged for move- 89/37 89/40 B ment against the action of a spring at a pivot pin 23/06 which is offset with respect to the pivot axis of the elee o l 7 B 3 vating rim. in order to bring about a movement of the 89/37 40 B cradle which is opposite to the tilting movement of the [56] References Cited Vehlcle' UNITED STATES PATENTS 3 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure 1.371862 4/1921 Peoples 89/37 8 APPARATUS FOR A FIRING WEAPON MOUNTED AT A LIGHT VEHICLE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a new and improved apparatus for a firing weapon mounted at a light vehicle, the firing weapon being arranged by means of its cradle at an elevating rim and the recoil force of such firing weapon during firing thereof causing a tilting movement of the vehicle.

It is well known in this art that if one or a number of firing weapons are mounted at a light vehicle such will be subjected to a tilting movement under theaction of the recoil forces of the firing weapons, this tilting movement producing a reduced firing accuracy of the mounted weaponry.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Hence, it is a primary object of the present invention to overcome or at least markedly reduce such impairment in the firing accuracy of the weapon.

Still a further significant object of the present invention relates to a new and improved apparatus for firing weapons mounted at a light vehicle capable of compen-- sating for the tilting movement of the vehicle owing to the recoil action prevailing during firing of the weapon so as to improve the firing precision of such weapon.

Now, in order to implement these and still further objects of the invention, which will become more readily apparent as the description proceeds, the invention contemplates pivotably mounting against the action of a spring. the cradle at a pivot pin which is offset with respect to the axis of rotation of the elevating rim, in order to bring about a movement of the cradle which opposes the tilting movement of the vehicle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above, will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawing wherein the single FIGURE thereof schematically illustrates an exemplary embodiment of inventive apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Describing now the drawing, it is to be understood that a vehicle chassis I is supported through the agency of springs 2 or equivalent structure at a vehicle axle 3. The vehicle chassis] is provided at its upper region with a rotatable rim 4 at which there is mounted for lateral alignment an armored turret 5. Laterally of the armored turret 5 there is mounted an elevating mechanism in the form of an elevating rim 6. A piston rod 7 of a hydraulic cylinder 8 operatively engages with this elevating rim 6. This hydraulic cylinder 8 is pivotably mounted at a pivot pin 9. Pivot pin 9 in turn is arranged at a portion 10 of the turret 5 which extends into the region of the vehicle chassis I. An automatic firing weapon II is mounted by means of its cradle 12 at the elevating rim 6. This cradle I2 is pivotably mounted for movement about a pivot pin I3 at elevating rim 6. Plvot pin 13 is upwardly offsetby an amount a with respect to the action of the line of force P which extends through the center of gravity T of the weapon system. The upper region of the cradle I2 bears against a stop 14 at the elevating rim 6, so that in the elevation direction it can not carry out any relative movement with respect to the elevating rim 6. On the other hand. the lower region of the cradle 12 bears against a stop 15 through the agency of an intermediately arranged spring 16. Furthermore, between the cradle 12 and the stop 15 there is also arranged a suitable damping element 17. The center of gravity T of the weapon system or arrangement as well as the support locations for the spring 16 and the damping element I7-viewed in the direction of firing are located in front of the pivot pin 13. The spring 16 is pre-stressed so that when the weapon is not operated, the cradle 12 will be held against its upper stop 14. Thetilt point of the vehicle chassis 1 has been designated by reference character K. The respective lever arms prevailing for two different elevation angles a of the weapon with regard to the tilt point K have been designated by reference characters h, and 11,. The angle d) defines the angle of pitch of the weapon produced by the inventive apparatus for compensating the tilting movement of the vehicle.

Now with the benefit of the foregoing description of such apparatus, the mode of operation thereof will now be described and is as follows:

When the firing weapon ll fires, then a tilting moment M, appears which acts upon the vehicle chassis l and slightly tilts such about the tilt point K. The magnitude of this tilting moment is dependent upon the elevation angle a ofthe firing weapon I I. As this elevation angle or increases,then the lever arm by means of which the recoil force P acts upon the tilt point K, becomes shorter. On the other hand, a moment M, is exerted upon the firing weapon mounted at the pivot pin 13 when there occurs the recoil force P, and which moment is opposite to the moment M exerted upon the vehicle chassis I and allows the firing weapon 11 to tilt downwardly through the angle d in opposition to the spring 16 and the damping element 17.

With knowledge of the geometric dimensions of the vehicle and the weapon mounting as well as the masses and spring constants, it is possible to simply calculate the spring 16. Similarly, it is possible to determine the design ofa suitable damping element 17 which suppresses vertical oscillations of the weapon and the transient behavior of the vehicle tilting movement and the opposite weapon movement approach one another.

In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, there is shown a weapon which fires transverse to the vehicle.

It should be apparent that in the case of a longitudinally directed weapon, the compensation apparatus must be designed somewhat differently. In practice, the calculations are undertaken for the compensation apparatus grav ty T of the weapon ll reduces and, on the other hand, also the lever arm by means of which the recoil force P engages at the tilt point K reduces with increasing elevation angle a. the quality of the compensation is extensively independent upon the elevation angle or. In a certain elevational range. in the illustrated embodiment from 73lto 90, the compensation'apparatus no longer functions, sinceathengthemoment- M, exerted upon the vehicle chassis l reverses rotational sense; However. this elevational range is of secondary significance. v r While there is shown and described present-preferred embodiments of the invention-.it isito'be 'distinctly'understood that the invention is not limited theretobut may be otherwise variously embodied and {practiced within the scope-of the following claims.':'-Accordingly,

elevatinghnechanisni, p'ivotpin'means for the cradle about which is pivotably mounted the cradle at said elevating mechanismsaid pivot pin'means being arranged above the weapon axis, said weapon being pivotable 'about'said pivot'pin neans due toits recoilforce and opposite the tilting'fin'otion of the vehicle, a prestressed spring bearing iat one end at'the'cradle a'ridat the other "end at theelevating mechanism;

I H W said elevating mechanism beingprovided'with a stop against which there is pressed-the cradleunder theaction of the force of said .pre stressedfspring.

ZIThe rnquntingapparatus as def ned in claim- I, further;incltidinga'daihpihg element located substantially parallel"to the'pre-stressed spring; I; V I

3. The mountin'g" apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the center of gravity of the firing weapon is located in front-of the pivot pin means viewed in the direction of firing. I I 

1. A mounting apparatus for a weapon for mounting the same at a light vehicle, said weapon having a weapon axis and said vehicle having a tilt axis, said vehicle being pivotable about said tilt axis due to the recoil force of the weapon, said weapon having a cradle, an elevating mechanism rotatable about an axis of rotation, said weapon being mounted via said cradle at said elevating mechanism, pivot pin means for the cradle about which is pivotably mounted the cradle at said elevating mechanism, said pivot pin means being arranged above the weapon axis, said weapon being pivotable about said pivot pin means due to its recoil force and opposite the tilting motion of the vehicle, a prestressed spring bearing at one end at the cradle and at the other end at the elevating mechanism, said elevating mechanism being provided with a stop against which there is pressed the cradle under the action of the force of said pre-stressed spring.
 2. The mounting apparatus as defined in claim 1, further including a damping element located substantially parallel to the pre-stressed spring.
 3. The mounting apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the center of gravity of the firing weapon is located in front of the pivot pin means viewed in the direction of firing. 